Grease interceptor



1955 H. G. BRENNER 2,701,619

GREASE INTERCEPTOR Filed Nov. '9, 1949 IN VEN TOR. Hf/VRV 6. BEfN/VEB A 77'0RNEYS United States Patent '0 GREASE INTERCEPTOR Application November 9, 1949, Serial No.126,359

' 1 Claim. (CL 182- 9) This invention is directed to improvements in grease interceptors of the continuous flow type wherein a cast iron basin comprising the grease separating chamberhas an outlet duct extending from near the bottom to an outlet branch located near the top of the'basin structure. In such interceptor constructions the basin proper 'is sealed with a gasket and lid and it is important that a pressure equalizing gas duct be arranged to communicate with the space above the grease chamber and the'outlet duct in such manner as to permit the air or gas to escape from the top region of the basin when the grease level therein rises. In some instances a surging effect takes place which may be due to several causes. Various practices have been followed to meet such conditions, including the provision of a by-pass cast in the wall or walls of the basin and outlet duct. While the mentioned prac' tice has fulfilled the function of pressure equalization, considerable difiiculty has been experienced in the smooth casting of such by-pass ducts in the basin body regardless of the care taken in the core work. Also, the relative inaccessibility of such by-pass locations results in cleaning neglect. When such by-pass ducts are not cleaned thoroughly, clogging eventually occurs.

The object of the present invention is to provide an exit or outlet end structure for interceptors of the type referred to which will provide the by-pass as an incident to a reshaping of the outlet structure and which will result in better balancing of metal distribution when being poured in the mold.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an integral outlet duct which will be in communication with both the bottom region and the top region of the exit end of the separator basin and whereby a common closure or lid may serve to seal both the top of the basin structure and the top of the outlet duct structure, while affording a by-pass spacing between the under side of the lid and the top of the end wall of the basin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interceptor construction of the type referred to having a bottom efiiuent passageway and a top pressure equalizer passageway so arranged in association with the outlet passageway as to overcome the accumulation of solid deposits in the respective passageways.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an outlet end structure for an interceptor of the type referred to which will afford direct flow communication of the entire exit end region of the bottom of the basin with the outlet or riser.

A still further object is to provide a bypass duct which will communicate with the entire end region of the grease chamber and the outlet duct.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred form or embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings wherein- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cast grease interceptor structure incorporating the features of the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the entire basin structure taken along a vertical plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation showing a vertical section taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the discharge or exit end of the interceptor structure taken along the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

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Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated the embodiment of my invention as being incorporated in a grease interceptor structure of the unitary basin type and which is rectangular in shape. The interceptor is of the continuous flow type wherein thegreasy effluent is discharged into one end of a separator basin and the grease rises to the top region of the basin and is trapped there until removed while the greaseless efiluent escapes from a location adjacent the bottom of the basin upwardly through an outlet riser duct.

The interceptor structure shown comprises side walls 6, an'inlet end wall 7, an outlet end wall 8 and a bottom wall 1t), which form the separating chamber proper of the interceptor mechanism. The bottom wall 10 of the interceptor inclines from the inlet end to the outlet 'end for well known purposes.

In the form shown the inlet wall 7 is provided with an inlet branch connecting means 12 which is disposed above the normal water level in the separating chamber, this normal level being determined by the point of elevation of the outlet branch 14. The branch14 is particularly arranged with respect to the outlet duct structure.

As shown, the outlet duct comprises a tubular riser duct 15 extending upwardly from an extension 10a of the bottom wall to substantially the plane of a cover seat or gasket seal formation 16a of the interceptor structure which may have a vertical flange. The exit end wall 8 of the basin structure terminates a substantial distance above the bottom wall member 10a and is provided with a horizontal wall or converging extension 18 connecting to the bottom part of the duct 15, there being converging vertical walls 19 as extensions of the lower region of the side walls connecting the bottom wall extension 10a to the overlying extension 18 and all converging to the bottom region of the outlet duct 15. The top of the end wall 8 of the basin structure terminates substantially in a plane coincident with a plane of the gasket seat 16:: of the cover structure 20 and this top terminus of the end wall 8 is provided with a horizontal wall or lateral extension 21 vertically spaced from 18 and converging to, and integral with, the top end formation of the duct 15.

In Fig. 2 an inlet baffle 24 is shown disposed to deflect the infiowing grease-carrying efiiuent downwardly to the bottom wall 10 of the basin structure of the separator and a series of baffles 13 are provided for flow direction and turbulence effects, which features comprise no part of the present invention, but are shown to indicate general relation of the funnel-shaped bottom outlet passageway to the general path of flow of the efiluent.

The outlet duct of branch 14 is provided with elbowshaped bafile member 26 extending downwardly to a level slightly below the outlet branch to form an outlet seal, which bafile also extends inwardly a distance of substantially three-fourths of the diameter of the duct 15 to direct the outflowing efiluent into the branch 14 while leaving a passageway 27 connecting the upper reach of the duct with the lower reach of the duct. I

The particular manner of constructing the lower effluent passageway leading from the bottom of the basin structure to the bottom of the outlet duct 15 results in a convenient distribution of the metal in the mold when the basin is being cast and, in the ultimate product, produces a passageway clear across the bottom of the end wall 8, thereby to prevent the lodging of solids against any part of the end wall 8 and bottom wall 10. In so far as casting is concerned, the top structure of the duct and associated passageway have the same foundry advantage, while providing an air by-pass passageway 30 between the under face of the cover or lid 20 and the top region of the duct 15, all surfaces of which passageway become immediately exposed when the cover is removed for cleaning. The passageway 27 within the duct structure per se establishes air communication between the top cavity of the basin structure through passageway 30 with the liquid in the duct 15 when the apparatus is installed and in operation. Thus there is an air passageway available from the top space of the basin to a locus in the duct below the outlet branch 14.

By providing a continuation of the cover seat or gasket seal 16a to extend beyond the end wall 8, access to the entire length of the duct 15 also becomes immediate when the cover 20 is removed, thus afiording convenience in dislodging any solids which might become deposited in the upper region of the duct 15 down through the passageway 27 and to any unusual lodgment of solid matter in the lower part of the duct.

It will be apparent that while obtaining improved functioning of the apparatus through the convenience afiorded to keep the various passageways clean, I also eliminate troublesome core work while a better metal distribution results in the mold when manufacturing the interceptors.

I claim:

In a grease interceptor of the continuous flow sealed type, a rectangular unitary basin structure having an inlet end and an outlet end at opposite ends of the basin structure, the outflow end of the basin structure consisting of two horizontally disposed vertically spaced Walls converging to the upper and lower ends of an integral riser pipe portion spaced outwardly from the outlet end wall of the basin structure, a basin bottom wall extending outwardly and terminating beneath the riser pipe portion and beneath extensions of the lower regions of the side walls integral with the lower one of said horizontal walls thereby to form a solids gathering chamber converging to the bottom of said riser pipe formation, said riser pipe terminating in the upper of said horizontal walls with an integral outflow branch disposed below said upper horizontal wall, said branch formation being continued inwardly in the form of an inner elbow extending downwardly below the normal water level of the basin as determined by the said outlet branch with a passageway of segment-shaped cross section between the elbow formation and the inner pipe wall, said upper horizontal wall being disposed below the top of the basin structure, side walls extending upwardly from the upper horizontal wall and formed to provide a lid seat which is a continuation of a lid seat formed about the upper rim of the rectangular basin and a lid on said seat whereby a single lid structure serves to enclose and form a by-pass channel between the upper horizontal wall and the lid thereby establishing gas communication between the upper region of the basin and the top opening of said riser pipe.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

